System and method for displaying airline seats

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a system and method for displaying airline seats. The system or method transmits data to an application running on a general purpose computer, the data including information descriptive of available individual seats on one or more airplanes, the data processed by the application to generate a graphical user interface on the general purpose computer that comprises an interactive seating map representing individual seats on the one or more airplanes, the data processed by the application to generate an additional display of information about one or more of the individual seats in response to a user interaction with the graphical user interface, the interaction being triggered when placing a mouse over a portion of the graphical user interface.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/244,727 filed on Oct. 2, 2008, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/295,577 filed on Apr. 22, 1999, now U.S. Pat.No. 7,454,361, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated byreference in their entirety. This application is also related toco-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/479,635 filed on Jun. 5,2009, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a system and method for displayingairline seats.

2. Prior Art

The inadequacies and inefficiencies of present ticketing and reservationsystems are recognized and addressed through this invention. The rapidgrowth of the internet now makes it possible for anyone at his home oroffice to avail himself of the advantages of the instant inventionthrough a simple internet or other wide area network connection.

Prior art makes a feeble attempt to address the inconvenience of ticketordering. U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,126 (1988), Helbling, et al., describes aseries of individual kiosks in wireless communication with a centralstation where a visitor can locate events of interest, view an excerptof scenes from that venue and purchase tickets. This falls far short ofthe instant invention since it still requires a user to physically visita remote site to avail himself of the service. Additionally, said priorart makes extensive use of what is called “kiosks” implying that, unlikethe instant invention, it is only from his specialized machines thatsuch services may be rendered.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,252 describes a more interactive theater attendancesystem where patrons are permitted two way communications betweenthemselves and a broadcast center but this is still far from objectivesof the instant invention and requires that persons be in attendance atthe theater and, further some attendant be present at the remotebroadcast center. The instant invention is fully automated and, otherthan the normal monitoring of any application for a wide area network,requires no human attendance or intervention.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,427,438 describes a ticket vending system where sales oftickets can be recorded on a seating layout but, again falls far shortof the instantaneous update and automatic operation of the instantinvention. U.S. Pat. No. 5,333,257 allows for a view from a seat butthat is now common for internet applications where a hyperlink to anygraphic is routinely provided and ancillary to and even unnecessary tothe instant invention. Other prior art does nothing to make ticketordering or seating reservations more readily available and does nothingto improve the information flow to prospective customers so that theymay make a more informed decision about attending any given event.

Consider the traveler who has planned a vacation in, say, New York Cityand wants tickets for some Broadway show. Presently he has either tophone and accept someone else's definition of what constitutes “bestavailable” or wait until he gets into town and seek out a scalper orreseller agency and he still isn't sure exactly what his seats offer.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

Several objects and advantages of the present invention are:

(a) to always provide customers with a seat selection comprised of thetotal of the then best available seats for any given event;

(b) to make equally available to all customers all then available seatsfor any given event to that said customer, so he may select for himselfthe seat or seats he wants for that event;

(c) to provide an alternative means to visiting box office or a ticketreseller for a customer to select and reserve for himself the then bestavailable seat or seats for any arena, stadium, theater, airline flightor any other such venue where seating is available;

(d) to provide to a ticket sensitive venue operator better control overthe seating and seat availability for the various events he offers;

(e) to provide to a ticket sensitive venue operator better accounting ofhis seating for the various events he offers;

(f) to provide to the general public a more cost effective means bywhich he may reserve and buy tickets for any given event;

(g) to provide to a venue operator a more cost effective means by whichhe may sell tickets for any given event;

(h) to provide to the general public an automated 24 hours a day, sevendays a week means by which he may reserve and purchase the specificseats he wants for an event;

(i) to provide to a venue operator an automated 24 hours a day, sevendays a week means by which he may offer reservation and purchase of aseat or seats that are individually selectable by a customer;

(j) to permit the venue operator to avoid overbooking an event;

(k) to permit the venue operator to avoid underbooking an event;

(l) to permit a doctor or other professional for whom his time is acommodity to better schedule and regulate his time and interact withpatients or others in the online environment;

(m) to provide to the general public a 24 hours a day, seven days a weekmeans by which they may schedule appointments with doctors, dentists,automotive mechanics and the like with full knowledge that theappointment time they select is still available.

Further objects and advantages are to provide any venue operator thebenefit of better control over his ticket inventory and sales such as toimprove his profitability and the efficiency of his operation and toprovide to the general ticket buying public better information and aneasier means by which they may acquire their desired ticket or ticketsfor any event.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The ticketing and reservation system of the present invention, in oneparticular embodiment thereof, includes a computer program operating ona server for a wide area network (WAN), generally described by the flowchart of FIG. 1 and the accompanying code example which implements theinstant invention in practice:

First, when a user accesses the system means is provided to initializethe process and return to the user a menu from which he selects hisvenue of interest. This can be a selectable menu arranged by artist ordate or time or specific theater or football team or baseball team orname or activity or any combination thereof such that the user is givensufficient information from which to make a decision. An example wouldbe someone looking for the next event at a given theater at a time thatstarts at 7:00 pm. One of many possible series of computer instructionsto perform this function is:

<-Send database query to retrieve all venues that are currentlyavailable in the system->

<-Server receives and processes query->

<-Query is looped until all available performances and venues areretrieved->

<-Markup Language engine converts result to display compatible formatfor output to client computer->

<-Begin normal markup language here->

<-Begin reservation process selecting the event date/time next to thedesired venue->

THEN, upon user submittal, the server initializes the process ofreturning to the user all available seats:

<-Send database query to retrieve all seats that are currently availablein the system for this event->

<-Server receives and processes query->

<-Query is looped until all available seats are retrieved->

<-Markup language engine converts result to markup language format foroutput to client computer->

<-Begin normal markup language here->

<-Continue reservation process by selecting the desired seat or seats->

THEN, upon user submittal we create a new customer record in the WideArea Network server and tell the system which database to connect to tofulfill the user's request(s):

<-Send database command to insert new record in customer database andobtain record id->

<-Send database command to insert new record in reservation “order”database and obtain record id->

<-Send database command to insert new record for each selected seat inthe reservation “detail” database->

<-Begin normal markup language here->

<-Continue reservation process by requesting client paymentinformation->

THEN, upon user submittal the information is passed for verification:

<-Submit client information for verification->

<-If verification is successful, send database command to updatecustomer record in customer database with information previouslycollected->

<-If verification is successful, send database command to updatereservation record in reservation “order” database with verificationinformation->

<-If verification is successful, send database command to removeselected seats from seat inventory database and mark as no longeravailable for future selection->

<-Markup language engine converts result to markup language format foroutput to client computer->

<-Begin normal markup language here->

<-If verification is successful, confirmation is generated via Markuplanguage engine to markup language format for output to clientcomputer->

<-If verification is unsuccessful, a failure notice is generated viaMarkup language engine to markup language format for output to clientcomputer->

<-If verification is unsuccessful, client is presented with option toprovide his payment information again or abandon his reservation->

While this is one preferred form of the code there are many other codesequences that will perform the same function that will be immediatelyobvious to one skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The aforementioned objects and advantages of the present invention aswell as additional objects and advantages thereof will be more fullyunderstood hereinafter as a result of a detailed description of apreferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the followingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the present invention illustrating themajor components thereof and the interactivity that takes place betweenthe potential customer and the instant invention.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of the concept of the present inventionutilizing the internet as the Wide Area Network to which users connectto perform the desired function and shows an example of a remotelylocated user accessing the functionality of the instant invention forpurposes of reserving seats for a dinner theater performance in adistant city.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are illustrations of the concept of the presentinvention refined down to the functionality of reserving specific seatsand blocking duplicate sale of those seats that are already reserved.

FIGS. 4A to 4E are sample screens seen by a remote user of the instantinvention during a session wherein he selects and orders four specificseats for a distant dinner theater show.

FIG. 5 is a complete code set for one preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the operator of a venueimplements the instant invention for purposes of allowing remotelylocated users to reserve specific seating for specific events 1. Bydoing so, he initiates those certain actions necessary to display aninternet web site to all online users 2. A prospective customer for thevenues offering(s) logs onto the internet 3 and acquires the aforesaidinternet web site 4 which implements the instant invention. He can beconnected to the internet by any conventional means yet this by no meansimplies that the wide area network must be what is commonly referred toas the “internet.” Upon first contact by the prospective customer, aninquiry is directed to the appropriate database, which may be locatedconcurrent with the primary server hosting the program for the instantinvention or may be located remotely, such as at the physical locationof the venue, asking for a return of information to the prospectivecustomer of all appropriate information contained therein relative tohis inquiry 5. The prospective customer indicates his desired seat orseats through conventional computer input means and directs thatinformation back to the server hosting the code necessary to theimplementation of the instant invention 6. Upon contact 7 the serveragain makes an appropriate database query and returns to the prospectivecustomer all pertinent information relating to his selection, such aswhich seats are still available for the chosen performance, airlineflight, boxing match, etc. The prospective customer is then presentedwith a representation of all then available seating for his selectedvenue 8. From this representation, the prospective customer makes hisselection of a seat or seats by indicating such through a mouse click,keyboard entry or other means, such as but not limited to a touchscreen. Simultaneously, the server, through the coding necessary toimplement the instant invention, creates a temporary customeridentification 9 that is used to associate this potential customer withthis later selection and permit system use by multiple simultaneoususers. Once the customer has made his seat selection he is asked forpayment information 10. That information is processed throughconventional internet or other electronic means and once the informationand payment are verified Ha the customer information, as supplied in 10,is made permanent and the seat or seats he has selected are removed frominventory and blocked from duplicate sale, both graphically whenpresented to the next prospective customer and in the database whereinformation for accounting and administrative purposes is retained. Ifthe customer's payment information cannot be verified 11 b then he isgiven an opportunity to correct the information or start over with a newtransaction. Upon verification of the customer's payment information hereceives a confirmation of the transaction 13 containing all appropriatereference information for his records.

Referring to FIG. 2, it will be seen that, for example, a user inHouston 13 is planning to vacation in New York and wishes to see a playat a dinner theater there that utilizes the present invention forticketing and reservations 15. The user in Houston, or in any otherlocation worldwide, connects to the internet in the conventional way andretrieves the appropriate web site through his graphical browser from aserver located in, say, Anaheim, California 14. Through implementationof the instant invention the user is able to see the exact seatingarrangement of the remote dinner theater and select the exact seat orseats he wants for the performance of his choice. Such additionalinformation as is appropriate can be provided to the remote user toassist him in making an informed decision as to which seat or seats hewishes to occupy for this performance.

Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, it will be seen that in FIG. 3A that, atthe user selected venue, all seats at table P11 17 and at table s14 18have been previously taken and are so indicated by the graphicalrepresentation of an “X” over those seats. Our potential customer wantsto seat a party of four at table S1 16 and so indicates by clicking hismouse on those four seats or by so indicating through an alternativestandard computer input means. Once his payment method is verified hisselected seats are removed from inventory and so indicated on thegraphical representation by placing an “X” over those seats 19 whileretaining the “X” over those seats previously sold at table P11 20 andtable s14 21. The next prospective customer is advised that these seatsare no longer available for this performance by the new graphicalrepresentation shown in FIG. 3B that is his first viewing screen uponentry into the system. In the event that two prospective customers wishto reserve the exact same seat or seats, that prospective customer whofirst receives validation of his payment method is given those seatswhile the other prospective customer is notified that while making hisdecision the seats he wants have already been sold and offers him achance to select other seating.

Referring to FIGS. 4A to 4E, one will see the screens presented to auser when he accesses the system and as he progresses through theprocess of selecting a specific seat or seats, then reserves and paysfor them. FIG. 4A is where the first screen presented shows links toavailable performances for that selected venue 22. FIG. 4B is the secondscreen 23 and shows a view of the seating available for that venue withseats that have already been taken crossed off with an “X” 24. Ourhypothetical user decides that he would like to have his party of foursit at table s11 25 and selects the four seats around that table byclicking on them with his mouse. As he moves his mouse over individualseats the seat number appears in the window at the bottom of his screen26 and when he clicks on a seat it is added to a running tally of theseats he has already taken 27. Only seats that have not previously beentaken show up in the mouse-over window 26. After completing hisselections the user clicks on the “Reserve Seats” button and FIG. 4Cshows his next screen, which asks him for his payment information 28. Heenters the required information and again clicks the “Reserve Seats”button 29. FIG. 4D is the next screen and it tells him that his paymentmethod has been accepted (or rejected) and relates information about thetransaction 30 such as his transaction code and the receipt number thathe can use as a ticket or as a voucher with which to redeem his ticketor tickets at the venue box office when he arrives for the performance.Finally, FIG. 4E shows the opening screen the next visitor to the systemis presented with the same set of screens except that the seats reservedby our hypothetical user 31 are marked off as already taken.

Referring to FIG. 5, one will see one of many possible coding schemesmaking possible the results of the present invention.

Those having skill in the art to which the present invention pertainswill now understand that there are virtually unlimited uses for thepresent invention. By way of example, the present invention may bereadily used to reserve specific seats on commercial airliners orreserve specific staterooms on a cruise ship, as well as for reservingseats for any venue from community theater or little league baseball tomajor league sporting events.

The present invention has been described in sufficient detail to enableone skilled in the art to make and use the invention. Accordingly,specific details which are readily available in the art or otherwiseconventional have been omitted to prevent obfuscation of the essentialfeatures of the invention.

In view of the foregoing it will be understood that the presentinvention may be implemented in a variety of alternative methods butthat all such implementations are deemed to be within the scope of thepresent invention which is to be limited only by the claims appendedhereto:

1. A computer-implemented method for interactively displaying one ormore seats on an airplane to an end user over a network, the methodcomprising: receiving over the network from a general purpose computerfirst data representing payment information; and transmitting seconddata to an application running on the general purpose computer, thesecond data including information descriptive of available individualseats on one or more airplanes, the second data processed by theapplication to generate a graphical user interface on the generalpurpose computer that comprises an interactive seating map representingindividual seats on the one or more airplanes, the second data processedby the application to generate an additional display of informationabout one or more of the individual seats in response to a userinteraction with the graphical user interface, the interaction beingtriggered when placing a mouse over a portion of the graphical userinterface.
 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: transmittingthird data to the application, the third data including information thatcan be printed as an admission document or voucher by the end user. 3.The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the second data to theapplication running on the general purpose computer comprisestransmitting web page data for generating the interactive seating map.4. The method of claim 3, wherein transmitting the web page data forgenerating the interactive seating map comprises transmitting embeddedscripting language code for generating the interactive seating map. 5.The method of claim 1, wherein the second data is processed by theapplication to display a location of the one or more of the individualseats in response to the user interaction.
 6. The method of claim 1,wherein the second data is processed by the application to display aseat number in response to the user interaction.
 7. The method of claim1, wherein the second data is processed by the application to display aseat number in response to the user placing a mouse over a portion ofthe interactive seating map corresponding to an individual seat.
 8. Asystem for interactively displaying one or more seats on an airplane toa plurality of end users over a network, the system comprising: a datastorage storing a plurality of entries denoting a plurality of availableindividual seats on an airplane; and a server, configured to: query thedata storage for information descriptive of available individual seatson one or more airplanes; and transmit data to an application running ona general purpose computer, the data including the informationdescriptive of available individual seats on one or more airplanes, thedata processed by the application to generate a graphical user interfaceon the general purpose computer that comprises an interactive seatingmap representing individual seats on the one or more airplanes, the dataprocessed by the application to generate an additional display ofinformation about one or more of the individual seats in response to auser interaction with the graphical user interface, the interactionbeing triggered when placing a mouse over a portion of the graphicaluser interface.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the server is furtherconfigured to transmit second data to the application, the second dataincluding information that can be printed as an admission document orvoucher by the end user.
 10. The system of claim 8, wherein thetransmitting the data to the application running on the general purposecomputer comprises transmitting web page data for generating theinteractive seating map.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein thetransmitting the web page data for generating the interactive seatingmap is configured to transmit embedded scripting language code forgenerating the interactive seating map.
 12. The system of claim 8,wherein the data is processed by the application to display informationabout a location of the seat in response to the user interaction. 13.The system of claim 8, wherein the data is processed by the applicationto display a seat number in response to the user interaction.
 14. Thesystem of claim 8, wherein the data is processed by the application todisplay a seat number in response to the user placing a mouse over aportion of the interactive seating map corresponding to an individualseat.
 15. A computer-implemented method running on a general purposecomputer for interactively viewing one or more seats on an airplane byan end user over a network, the method comprising: receiving, via anapplication running on the general purpose computer from a servercoupled to the general purpose computer over the network, data includinginformation descriptive of available individual seats on one or moreairplanes, the data processed by the application to generate a graphicaluser interface on the general purpose computer that comprises aninteractive seating map representing individual seats on the one or moreairplanes, the data processed by the application to generate anadditional display of information about one or more of the individualseats in response to a user interaction with the graphical userinterface, the interaction being triggered when placing a mouse over aportion of the graphical user interface.
 16. The method of claim 15,further comprising: receiving information that can be printed as anadmission document or voucher by the end user.
 17. The method of claim15, wherein receiving, via an application running on the general purposecomputer from a server coupled to the general purpose computer vianetwork, comprises receiving web page data for generating theinteractive seating map.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein receiving,via an application running on the general purpose computer from a servercoupled to the general purpose computer via network, comprises receivingembedded scripting language code for generating the interactive seatingmap.
 19. The method of claim 15, wherein the additional display ofinformation comprises information about a location of the seat inresponse to the user interaction.
 20. The method of claim 15, whereinthe additional display of information comprises a seat number inresponse to the user interaction.